Large-scale Testing Facility
To rationally construct and maintain reliable structures in ports, coasts, and airports, it is necessary to fully understand mechanical properties of the structures. When we investigate mechanical properties of the structures and their components in details, it is quite helpful to conduct structural loading tests on large-scale models of the structures, by which the models are broken by applying external forces. For the tests, strong and rigid walls and floors are required to bear the reaction of applied forces and to steadily fix the models and loading machines. These are generally called as load-bearing walls and floors. In this facility, two directional load-bearing walls and a floor are available, which are made of pre-stressed concrete. The wall is 7.0 m high and the floor is 15.0 m wide and 16.5 m long.
Through the loading tests on large-scale models conducted in this facility, mechanical properties and failure mechanism of various structures in ports, coasts, and airports will be made clear, realizing quantitative evaluation of structural performance of the structures such as safety and serviceability. Based on the results, we will propose integrated methods for design and verification of newly-constructed structures, and publish technical manuals for utilization of existing structures.
Overall view of inside of facility
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| (Example of experiments) Loading tests on reinforced concrete slabs using falling-weight impact loading machine |
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